Edgar Vernon Blanchard (August 17, 1924 – September 16, 1972) was an American R&B guitarist, bandleader and arranger who was prominent in the musical life of New Orleans between the 1940s and 1960s. 　　He was born in Grosse Tête, Louisiana, the son of Elizabeth and Sam Blanchard, and learned to play both guitar and banjo. He was stationed in Europe during World War II, and on his return formed his own band, the Gondoliers, named in memory of his time in Italy. By 1947, he was established as bandleader at the Down Beat club on Rampart Street, New Orleans, with Roy Brown as one of his vocalists and Ernest McLean as a second guitarist. 　　Blanchard's band was known for his ability to play in a range of styles. They first recorded in Houston, Texas, in 1949, for Don Robey's Peacock Records, but his recordings were not successful and he returned to New Orleans where – with Dave Bartholomew — he was a resident bandleader at the Dew Drop Inn. He recorded with Roy Brown, and performed with oth